With round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs underway, the Arizona Coyotes prospects have brought some positive news. Forwards Conor Geekie and Dylan Guenther are currently playing in the WHL (Western Hockey League), and so far, both respective teams have advanced to the semi-finals. With Dylan Guenther’s Seattle Thunderbirds taking a commanding 3-1 lead over the Kamloops Blazers, he will look to hopefully reach the finals. The same could be said for Conor Geekie. His Winnipeg Ice swept the Saskatoon Blades four games to zero. Coyotes fans can only hope for a WHL showdown between the two Coyotes’ top prospects.
What has made this run so special for the two, and can it eventually translate into the NHL?
Deep Playoff Runs For Two Arizona Coyotes Prospects
Coyotes Prospect Conor Geekie
The Coyotes were busy during last year’s draft as they traded up to the 11th spot to draft Conor Geekie. Geekie, 19, had a pretty solid season for the Ice this past season, recording 35 goals and 77 points in 66 games. Although he has picked it up a notch as the first-rounder now has 15 points in 14 playoff games.
Although he has been playing good hockey in the playoffs, it wasn’t always like that during the regular season. “There’s times where I feel he can play better, but I can say that about all of our players,” head coach James Patrick said earlier this season. “I have high expectations for him and there have been periods where I think he is coming close to that.”
For a first-round pick, there will always be high expectations but Geekie has proved himself in these playoffs. A name that comes to mind when you watch Geekie is none other than Tage Thompson, another player general manager Bill Armstrong helped draft during his time in St. Louis.
Jeff Shantz, who is part of the Coyotes’ development staff, recently spoke to Arizona Coyotes insider Craig Morgan. “He’s definitely a more of a 200-foot player who is stopping on pucks in his own end and as a centerman, he’s staying between the puck and his net when he’s in his own end, especially when there’s not full control,” Shantz said. “He’s not cheating as much. When you do a really good job of that as a centerman, you don’t have to play defense” Geekie’s Winnipeg Ice will now play the winner of the Seattle Thunderbirds and Kamloops Blazers series.
Coyotes Prospect Dylan Guenther
Dylan Guenther is widely regarded as one of, if not the best, sharpshooters among Arizona Coyotes prospects. This has been paying dividends for Guenther in the WHL this year.
However, this isn’t where his 2022-23 camping began. To kick off the season, Guenther was initially playing on the Arizona Coyotes. During his 33-game stint with the Coyotes, he registered six goals along with nine assists. Guenther’s rights were traded in the WHL as he was sent to the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds were having an excellent season with prospects from many other teams. Some names to mention are Brad Lambert, Reid Schaefer, and Kevin Korchinski.
With the NHL trade deadline approaching, the Coyotes opted to send Guenther back down to the WHL. GM Bill Armstrong didn’t want Guenther playing in meaningless, non-competitive games. He didn’t see the value in that for Guenther’s development. Guenther wasn’t exactly thrilled with the news, saying, “Maybe after this experience, if I come back next season and have a good start to training camp, then I can appreciate that, but you’re a little bit bitter. It’s disappointing. You don’t want to get sent down. I was living my dream, playing in the NHL as a young kid.”
Guenther has been doing exactly that. Playing in meaningful games with the Thunderbirds, who are on the verge of making it to the Memorial Cup Final. With another familiar name in Geekie playing for the Ice, the two could see each other in the Memorial Cup Final.
Time will only tell, but with Guenther and Geekie playing for Coyotes, the future is bright.
Main Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
